Pregnant Oz women being denied jobs

Melbourne, Aug 3 : Despite being a qualified architect with a science degree, Simone Giblin, is still without a job. The reason- she's pregnant.

The 25-year-old has applied for sic jobs in the last 1 month and has been shown the door all six times, with employers giving all sorts of excuses.

However, Giblin said that the truth is that they cannot look beyond her baby bump.

"I think it's important to be honest that you're pregnant. I'm not ashamed of it, but it's made finding a job very difficult. We're young and we need a double income to have the baby, pay off the mortgage and bills. It all adds up," News.com.au quoted Giblin, as saying.

She added: "I think some employers are insensitive. I don't think they have any understanding of pregnant employees. They need guidelines."

The 1977 Anti-Discrimination Act in Australia stipulates that a pregnant woman should not be treated differently in the provision of services or employment.

However, the scene is quite different when it comes to reality. Businesses complain they cannot be expected to offer work to someone who may be unavailable after giving birth.

Garry Brack, Employers First chief executive said small businesses in particular lack financial resources to waste time training a pregnant employee who would take maternity leaves soon after.

"Small businesses have trouble just trying to cope with someone being off on maternity leave. Hiring someone (who is pregnant) brings additional complications for them," he said.

He added: "They look for who can do the job now. If the person is leaving on maternity leave in a couple of months and somebody else is there, rather than starting all over again they might say this new person has some advantages."

NSW Anti-Discrimination Board president Stepan Kerkyasharian said it was almost impossible for a pregnant woman to find a job, with employers making excuses to avoid hiring those who disclosed their pregnancy in an application.

Giblin has applied for a range of positions in the design and retail industries.

"Even with qualifications behind you, businesses get nervous that you're going to leave them - when I would actually feel very grateful and would want to return to wnewswwork part-time after the baby's born. One business said they had too many pregnant women working there already," she said.